Apparatus for examining keenness of vision and the chromatic or color sense



' I 1,560,786 E. GUERIN Arruurus rbk zxmnurm xszmmss or VISION AND THE crmomnc on COLOR sans 2 I Filed Sept. 18, 1923 2 Shuts-Shoot 1 lrlvm'm Ana/ 115v Nov. 10,1 1,560,780

' E. GUERIN APPARATUS FQR BXAIINING KEENNESS OF VISION AND THE CHROIATIG OR COLOR SIIISI and Sept. 1a, 1923 2 Shuts-Shoot 2 v I 1mm I'm/7e Guerm By K Arm/ U Patented Nov. 10, 1925.

UNITEDSSTATEVS- EMILE GUERIN, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

.ATPIARA'JJUS FOB EXAMINING KEENNESS OF VISION AND THE CHROMATIC 0R 7 COLOR SENSE.

Application filed September 18, 1923. Serial No. 663,473.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMILE GUiiRIN, citizen of the Republic of France, residing at Paris, France, post-.ofiice address 109 Rue du Bac, have invented certain new and useful Keenness of Vision and the Chromatic or Color Sense, of which the following is a specification.

In French Patent No. 5%,768, dated the 21' December 1921, a description has been given of a chromo-optometric apparatus, or an apparatus for examining keenness of vision and the chromatic or color sense.

This apparatus, which is intended to fulfil the various functions of the chromo-optometric disc Le Mehaute used in the French Navy, whilst being much less fragile than this latter, much more transportable, more handy and less costly, is constituted in the following manner; It comprise a light box containing a luminous source,,the intensity of which can be regulated, such for example as an electric lamp which can be regulated by a rheostatand a photometer giving the indications necessary for the regulation of the lamp to the desired intensity. This box has a' frame with rollers upon which is mounted a band of suitable fabric, having the required qualities of transparency and flexibility. The band being wound upon the two rollers which are preferably driven-in order to wind the band in one direction or the other by a single knob, this bandacting as atransparent screen and having a portion bearing the diflerent characters necessary for the examination of the visual sharpness and translucent portions which do not carry any impression and serving for the examination of the chromatic sense by acting like a ground glass screen, which in the Le Mehaute device serves to filter the light which illuminates the colored glasses of the chromatoscope. In front of the roller frame and the band, the box may be provided at will with one or the other of two interchangeable plates, one ofwhich is provided with openings having shutters or the like and serves to enable the examination of the visual sharpness to be carried out by the band, and the other one of which carries a chromatoscope which serves in combination with the blank portion of the band to enable the examination of the chromatic sense to be carried out.

Pan-31w OFFIEQY Thisapparatus utilizes either a chromatoscope identical with that of the Le Mehaute, 'or a chromatoscope especially adapted for Improvements in Apparatus for Examining" use by railways in which the fixed signals,

the semaphore combinations and the stop signals for the'trains are shown by illumination by transparency, of the colored discs appearing through holes of reduced size made by taking into consideration the "visibility of the signals and the rule of proportionality in use in the French Navy.

Now the present invention has reference 7 to improvements in the apparatus used for testing visual acuity and the chromatic sense, of the type hereinbefore described. These improvements relate especially tothe general organization of the apparatus, the

optometric device and the chromatoscope.

The invention primarily consists in arranging the adjustable luminous source at' the centre of the light box and] in making I this latter capable of moving around avercording to whether it is desiredto examine the visual sharpness orthe chromatic sense,

the optometric arrangement with its band being, for this purpose, mounted on one of the sides ofithe apparatus and the chromatoscope on the other." In order therefore to pass from one operation to another, a substitution of the plates is avoided and a simple rotation of the apparatus being all that is necessary.-

The invention also consists in utilizing an optometric band having over a certain portion of its'length anoptotype device of the another portion a similar device, reduced or not, but with special signs provided for illiterate persons, the said band carrying also- 'usual type, with a complete scale of'the visual acuities for educated persons andon blank portions forming translucent surfaces which permit of the use of optotypes of a special kind other than those carried by the band, the optometer forfthis purposeh'aving a hinged door which permits of the reading 1 of such special optotypes. It should be un- I,

' derstood that thefoptotypes are the char T acters, letters, figures or signs, the reading Lil of which determines the degree of visual acuity.

Furtheraccording t the present invention a chromatoscope may be employed which isof special utility in navigation and on railways in which the fixed signals, the stop or danger signals in use on railways and the different combinations ofsemaphores are shown by means of colored discs luminated by transparent and appearing at holes reduced dimensions taking into account the visibility of the signals and the rule of proportion in use in navigation.

The accompanying drawings show, by way of example, the apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section. w

Figure 2 is a horizontal section.

Figure 3 is a front or face view of the roller frame constituting the optometer.

Figures at and 5 are front views of the same optometer opened to show the ribbon provided with the usual signs, or lettered or unlettered respectively.

Figure 6 is a face view of the light box, seen from the side, carrying the chromatoscope.

The light box 1 of parallelepiped form is mounted upon a pivot formed by the electric lamp 2 round which it can turn and take up two positions at .180 degrees controlled by means of teeth 28 suitably arranged upon the surface of rotation 29.

One of the ends of the light box carries the optometer formed by the roller frame 4 of the known :type. The other end carries a chromatoscope 6 suitable for the particular use of the apparatus (marine, railway, aviation, etc.)

This arrangement does away, therefore, at the price of a slight increase in volume, with the use of separate planchettes one substituting itself for the other, according as to whether it was a question of proceeding to examine keenness of vision or that of the chromatic sense. In this way the loss is avolded of one of the essential parts of the apparatus.

The lamp 2 forming ,a pivot is enclosed in a metal socket .30 provided with a window 31 giving passage to the luminous rays. The socket 30 and the lamp 2 are made in one with the base 29 provided with recesses 32 for ventilation and three feet 33 intended either as shown in Figure 1 to bear upon a general platen 34, on which there are fixed the resistance and a screen 35, or to be placed in the three branches of a foot similar to those used in topography or in photography.

The socket 30 is closed, above the light box 1, by mea-ns ofa stopper 36 having baffle plates 87 and ventilation holes 38.

The electric conductors 36 enter at'the centre of the base 29 in such a manner as not to hamper the rotation of the light box.

The screen '35 arrests the inferior reflections which would entail the risk of incommo'din'goperations.

The whole apparatus is enclosed in a case 89 (Figure 1) and, in order to avoid the necessity of having recourse to a special foot, the apparatus may be fixed by the platen 34 upon -the bottom 40 of the case which, in its turn, rests on the four feet 41. The case 39 having been raised and turned up the feet 41 fit into the case whic'hthus becomes a column or pedestal enabling any table to be used for the arrangement of the apparatus on a level with the-eyes of a pen son sitting down.

The optometer, in addition to the windows 10, 10, 10", which are closed by the shuttered obturators, comprises in the front a hinged door 43 the opening of which "releases the ribbon9 in its whole widthwhi'ch is necessary for the reading of the greatestcharacters (visual acuity 1/10) of 'Monoyers decimal scale.

arrangement of characters-such as shown in Figure 4 -w1th the complete gamut of visual acuities, for educated persons, and on the 7 Over a certain length the ribbon has an e White spaces are provided at the ends of the ribbon and between the series of letters such as in Figure 4t and the series of signs such as in Figure 5 for offering, at these three places, after opening the hinged front, translucent surfaces lending themselves to the use of phototypes (Landolt or others) which a practitioner would liketo be I able to use concurrently with Monoyers charactors or in preference to these latter.

Use is made of a known photometer, but provision is made for the use of two or more characteristic photometers of different luminous intensities, so as to be able to realize luminous spaces. suitable for special examinations.v In Fig. 3 apertures 7 and 8 are shown in the lower part of the member 43, and in Fig. 6 upper aperturesT", 8 are shown at the opposite end of'the light box 1.

The chromatoscope shown at 6 igures' 1, 2 and 6) has been especially designed for use in connection with railways. It utilizes the same colored glasses as those already employed for the lines. r

The device not only enables a practitioner to appreciate the chromatic sense of the subject' under examination, but an apparatus for instruction may be made from it quite suit able for teaching the rules or regulations, or to assure oneself of their assimilation.

The exposure of the colors employed for the signals has been effected by illuminating by transparency small discs colored respectively red, green, yellow, blue, violet, etc. The holes 44: (Figure 6) through which these small discs appear are of dimensions calculated to bear in mind the visibility of the signals and the rule of proportionality in use in the navy. The hole 44: is doubled by another hole 44 of smaller diameter (1/10 for example of the diameter of H) corresponding to the limit of visibility.

Furthermore it has seemed interesting to make the rear signals of trains appear on the chromatoscope, not only to obtain the differentiation of the red and of the green but also in order to serve for the instruction of the staff.

All the signals have been grouped upon a crown 45 which enables them to defile or pass by so as to render them successively visible through the window 46 (Figure 6) by operating the milled button 47.

It is understood that it is easy to apply a similar arrangement to chromatoscopes which can comply with similar requirements, whether it be a question of railways, aviation, transports companies in common, or for any other motive.

I claim 1. Apparatus for testing the visual acuity and chromatic sense comprising, a luminous source consisting of a box movable around an electric lamp serving as a pivot and taking up two positions at 180, according as to whether it is a question of proceeding to examine the visual acuity or the kee'nness of the chromatic sense, and an optometric translucent ribbon wound on a system of rollers located at one end of the said box.

2. Apparatus for testing visual acuity and chromatic sense, consisting of a box mov-' able around an electric lamp serving as a pivot for taking up two positions at 180, according as to whether it is a question of proceeding to examine the visual acuity or that of the chromatic sense, an optometric device located at one of the facades or fronts of the apparatus, an optometric ribbon comprising an arrangement of characters for educated persons, with a complete gamut of the different visual acuities, and a similar arrangement, for illiterate persons, and suitably arranged translucent surfaces permitting of the use of characters of Landolt or others.

3. Apparatus for testing visual acuity and chromatic sense, consisting of a box movable around an electric lamp serving as a pivot for taking up two positions at 180, according as to whether it is a question of proceeding to examine the visual'acuity or that of the chromatic sense, an optometric device located at one of the facades or fronts of the apparatus, an optometric ribbon comprising an arrangement of characters for educated persons, with a complete gamut of the different visual acuities, anda similar arrangement for illiterate persons, and suitably arranged translucent surfaces permitting of the use of characters of Landolt or others concurrently with the characters of Monoyer.

4:. Apparatus ual acuity and of the chromatic sense, consisting of a box movable around an electric lamp serving as a pivot and taking up two positions at 180, according as to whether it is a question of proceeding to examine the visual acuity or that of the chromatic sense, an optometric device located at one of the facades or fronts of the apparatus, an optometric ribbon comprising an arrangement of characters foreducated persons, with a complete gamut of the different visual acuities and a similar arrangement, for illiterate persons, suitably arranged translucent surfaces permitting of the use of characters (Landolt or others) concurrently with the Monoyer characters, and a ohromatoscope especially adapted for use by railways in which the fixed signals, the combinations and the rear signals of the trains are shown by illuminating by transparency, colored discs appearing through holes of reduced sizes, due consideration being given to the visibility of the signals and the rule of proportionality-in use in the French Navy.

5. Apparatus for the examination of visual acuity and of the chromatic sense, consisting of a boxmovable around an electric lamp serving as a pivot and taking up two positions at 180, according as to whether it .is a question of proceeding to for the examination of visexamine the visual acuity or that of the chromatic sense, an optometric device located at one of the faeades or fronts of the apparatus, an optometric ribbon comprising an arrangement of characters for educated persons, with a complete gamut of the different visual acuities and a similar arrangement, for illiterate persons, suitably arranged translucent surfaces permitting of the use of suitable characters (Landolt or others), and a chromatoscope especially adapted for use by railways in which the fixed signals, the combinations and the rear signals of the trains are shown by illuminating by transparency, colored discs appearing through holes of reduced sizes, due consideration being given to ,the visibility of the signals and the rule of the proportionality in use in the French Navy.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

' EMILE GUERIN. 

